I started buying SACDs about 8 months ago & now have about 20. Many were priced the same or less than equivalent CDs - the so-called 'rare' ones can get really pricey though.

Most of mine came from ebay vendors - it has the biggest selection out there & I've never had a problem. I even got one directly from China & it was here in no time. Prices vary widely from seller to seller, for example I bought a Vivino Brothers blues SACD (excellent BTW) from a vendor in the US for $7 + $5 shipping at the same time that an Ontario seller had his listed at $50 + $7 for shipping!!

If you buy more than 1 a time you can often get a break on shipping costs on multiple items & as long as the total price isn't too high, the customs man won't bother you for sales taxes...

I've never heard one.Now that I've listened my M80s for a while I know its time to start. I've heard some amazing recordings and some that I'd delete/through out if I had better copies.Best $1500 I ever spent.

The most frequently recorded of the major compositions of Berlioz is his Symphonie Fantastique, but Harold in Italy, not quite a Viola concerto, although giving that instrument many passages of beauty and excitement, has comparable attractions.

Of the dozen or so recordings of it which I've listened to, I'd suggest the thrilling performance led by Charles Munch with the Boston Symphony for anyone who doesn't currently have this in their collection. High-powered performances of four Berlioz overtures are also included, making for a superb overall Berlioz collection. This was selected for remastering for SACD in the "Living Stereo" series and the compatible disc also has an excellent quality CD layer. Available here from several Amazon sellers at typically bargain prices.

Ditto to John's recommendation...I have found the Primrose/Munch partnership the most exciting and satisfying of all versions I've yet heard (pretty good sound in SACD as well). Its a wonderful piece, so imaginative and colorful and very beautiful, expressive...a tone poem for viola and orchestra by a master of invention who was musical boundary breaker.

Yes, its hard to believe that Berlioz and Beethoven were just a generation or two apart. His Romeo et Juliette Dramatic Symphony is a wonder as is his Requiem. I've heard both Munch recordings and once owned the SACD but never took to it. I am still trying to find my ideal. I am now listening to Abbado's Chicago recording (with the optional coronet part), it is quite good but not as clear as it could be for this piece, but I am listening to it for the first time through my M80's and it sounds much better than I recall from my old speaker system. I have Muti's, very enjoyable, and I very much like Maazel's Cleveland recording especially with the outstanding Telarc sound engineering. Bernstein is also very good (the first he made with the N.Y Phil in the early 60's). Markevitch with the Lamoureux is a childhood favorite, but the sound stage is rather shallow on his DG recording (LP). I also have Solti's and it is an uncharacteristic version given his penchant of dramatics, this interpretation is quite mild, so is Dutoit's Montreal recording. Paray's is much too fast for my taste, a real "trip," quite like Munch but a bit freakier. In any case my search continues....regards to you.

John: I have the other one. I bought it not for the Berlioz but for the Liszt Les Preludes that accompanies it and that's why I still have it. I haven't heard the earlier version...Rhapsody doesn't have it online but I'll give the library a try. From what I've read about this recording it seems to be more the Solti of drama, crazyness and flare that this symphony needs. Thanks for the tip.